The following was published on the ST Forum Online on 31/3/2012: HERE AS A fee-based financial practitioner for many years, I take issue with the reported comments by Mr Vincent Ee, vice-president of the Association of Financial Advisers Singapore ('Financial advisers seek gradual changes'; Thursday). He said financial advisers who are paid a fee for their advice, rather than commissions based on the products they sell, would be 'interested only in coming up with a nice report and charging a fee'. The report is necessary for documentation and compliance, but is in no way the central focus of the client-adviser relationship. Professional financial planners adhere to the industry-wide practice of a six-step process in financial advisory, which includes the obligation to implement and review the financial plan. The process is embraced by professional bodies such as the Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Financial Consultant. Consumers who want to have greater ......